Rangatahi Take the Stage: Reimagining the Future of Te Taiao
"Let young people have a go in the driver's seat now and then, just see how much we can achieve." — Leighjyn Tamaki
If the future of te taiao was placed in the hands of rangatahi, what would it look like? That was the question at the heart of Te Ao Rangatahi | The Future Through a Youth Lens, a panel at the Endangered Species National Hui bringing together three inspiring young leaders shaping biodiversity restoration, community leadership and youth engagement.
This kōrero was a reminder that if we want young people to protect whenua, awa and moana, we need to ask them what they want, rather than assuming we already know.
Meet the three inspiring rangitahi
The future of te taiao looks good with you leading the way 💚
Tessa Thomson Jonny MacKenzie Leighjyn Tamaki
Tessa Thomson (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) is a marine ecologist who weaves mātauranga Māori together with Western science to restore taonga species and coastal ecosystems. Her research into the disappearance of toheroa from the Horowhenua coastline underscores the importance of working alongside iwi to restore not just biodiversity, but cultural connection to place.
Jonny MacKenzie, known online as Cool Native Tree Man, has built a passionate community by sharing the wonder of Aotearoa’s native ngahere. Beyond social media, he’s inspiring young people to step into the bush, reconnect with nature, and discover the stories, species and ecosystems that make our forests extraordinary.
Leighjyn Tamaki is a member of the Kāwhia Kauri Kaitiaki, a group of rangatahi focused on kaitiakitanga and practising traditional foraging. At the heart of who he is sits a love for Te Ao Māori, whenua and whakapapa. Leighjyn feels most at home providing kai for his whānau and helping rangatahi find pride in who they are, and believes young people deserve a strong voice in shaping their own future.
Te Taiao Is Us
We are all connected, and these rangatahi understand that better than most, caring deeply about the future of te taiao because it's their future too.
Panellists urged environmental leaders to genuinely hand over the reins when needed, give young people real decision-making power instead of a seat at the table just for show, and back their ideas rather than just making space for them.
Back rangatahi. Let them lead.
When asked what a healthy future for te taiao would actually look like, the panel didn't hold back, calling for better protections for our marine environment, an end to fast-tracked consenting, scrapping the Conservation Amendment Bill, stopping bottom trawling, and handing land back to mana whenua.
Te Au Whakamua: Building the Next Wave of Kaitiaki
This same energy is fuelling Te Au Whakamua, a new 10-month journey for Waikato taiohi who want to turn their passion for te taiao into a real career path.
It's being developed by Julian Williams, a prominent Waikato-Tainui environmental specialist, cultural adviser and natural resource leader, who joined us on day one of the Hui to share his kōrero about the Waikato Awa and its history.
Running one day a month, the programme blends marae-based wānanga with hands-on visits to organisations like Fonterra, Waka Kotahi, IAWAI and Mercury, giving rangatahi a front-row seat to the people and mahi shaping our environment.
It's open to taiohi finishing secondary school, studying a taiao-related subject, or just starting out in fields like environmental science, ecology or planning. Julian's aiming to bring together 40 Waikato taiohi and will hold a hui before year's end to help shape the programme around what rangatahi actually want from it.
If this sounds like something you or your tamariki would like to be part of, get in touch with Julian directly to register your interest: julian@te-huia.co.nz
Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui Rangitahi at the Endangered Species Hui
